Country and Regional Projects in South Asia and the Pacific

By reducing technology risks and market barriers in South Asia and the Pacific, NREL helps unlock new opportunities for U.S. energy exports, investments, and job creation—supporting American energy leadership.

Bangladesh

Through initiatives such as the Bangladesh Wind Resource Mapping and Renewable Energy Zones studies, NREL provides essential data and decision-making tools to improve grid management and integrate new energy technologies. NREL also supports capacity building by training stakeholders in advanced mobility, grid modernization, energy security, and resilience—advancing local expertise and reducing technology risk.

Bhutan

NREL applied deep technical expertise to help diversify Bhutan's energy mix and understand hydropower variability. This work included resource mapping and training for the national power system operator, helping to ensure secure and resilient power delivery under changing conditions.

India

NREL has played a key role in supporting energy sector development in India, collaborating with many partners to advance grid integration, energy systems modeling, and energy resource assessments. NREL and our partners—including Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy—have worked on studies to assess the impacts of high wind and solar penetration on India's power grid, focusing on large-scale renewable energy integration and challenges related to distributed energy resources. These efforts have addressed critical grid management issues, such as balancing generation and demand, power procurement, and integrating solar energy, battery storage, and electric vehicles into distribution systems. Additionally, NREL has supported the development of forecasting tools to improve solar plant dispatch capabilities and worked on projects in biofuels and energy efficiency.

Through the Global Power System Transformation Consortium (G-PST), NREL is supporting India's power system operator, Grid-India, in implementing advanced control room tools to detect network oscillations, improving grid stability and reducing renewable energy curtailment. NREL also provided training on resource adequacy tools, helping Grid-India conduct regional analyses to ensure a reliable power system. NREL continues to support Grid-India on market-clearing methodology, transmission constraints, and integrating emerging technologies for a resilient energy system.

NREL also partnered with India's states to evaluate strategies for managing distributed energy resource growth on India's power system, and supported the accelerated deployment of emerging energy technologies such as hydrogen, long-duration energy storage, and geothermal energy.

Indonesia

We are supporting Indonesia's efforts to enhance energy resilience and economic development on its remote islands. In collaboration with Texas-based TQ Automation and other partners, NREL has conducted feasibility assessments for hybrid minigrids and large-scale energy and storage projects. NREL has also provided technical assistance for long-term energy system planning that is informing infrastructure investments.

Through G-PST's partnership with Indonesia's state-owned electricity provider, Perusahaan Listrik Negara, NREL provided technical input for the Java-Bali grid control center and developed a control room roadmap for Sulawesi's power system.

Lao People's Democratic Republic

We worked with the Laos Ministry of Energy and Mines to enhance the country’s transportation system and grid resilience. Using open-source modeling tools, we assessed EV supply needs and siting while also exploring how renewable energy could complement Laos' hydropower infrastructure to strengthen the power system.

NREL conducted the Energy Alternatives Study to assess the technical potential and cost of different energy resources for electricity generation. We also collaborated with a local advisory group to develop a power sector resilience action plan, identifying vulnerabilities and implementing strategies for a more secure energy future.

Pacific Islands

We collaborate with the U.S. Department of the Interior to support Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands in deploying energy solutions that support affordable, reliable, and secure power systems.

NREL also worked with Tonga and Fiji to improve transportation efficiency and strengthen energy security. In Tonga, we helped develop a policy framework to improve mobility efficiency and electrify their transportation systems and provided support to enable the framework’s implementation. In Fiji, we assessed fleet electrification opportunities, helped inform vehicle emissions standards, and supported efforts for optimized mobility infrastructure.

Pakistan

By developing geospatial data products like energy resource maps, NREL is helping stakeholders in Pakistan understand key infrastructure siting considerations, such as transmission corridors and load centers, in their energy planning. We also provided technical assistance for forecasting, dispatch modeling, and integrated resource planning for Pakistan's transmission company and system operator.

Through G-PST's partnership with Pakistan's system operator, the National Power Control Center, NREL is helping modernize its control center and improve operational resilience. Additionally, we've helped develop a market monitoring system for Pakistan's electricity market to enhance transparency and system efficiency.

Philippines

In partnership with the Philippines Department of Energy, NREL is helping to enhance the country's power system planning through advanced modeling, resource assessment, and grid integration analysis. The Philippines Competitive Renewable Energy Zones process identifies the most cost-effective resource areas for development, helping streamline transmission planning and reduce investment risks.

As part of this effort, Philippine energy modelers worked with NREL to develop a modeling framework that informs transmission development plans, which were approved for implementation in 2023. The transmission development plans, as well as energy resource data for the entire country, can be found on RE Data Explorer.

NREL also collaborated with the Philippines Department of Energy to enhance long-term load forecasting and scenario planning, strengthening the country’s ability to predict electricity demand and optimize infrastructure investments.

Singapore

As part of efforts to enhance energy connectivity in Southeast Asia, NREL and other partners contribute investment modeling expertise for cross-border energy trade. This work supports Singapore's strategy for regional energy security, aligned with NREL's mission to bolster critical supply chains and infrastructure through collaborative innovation.

Sri Lanka

NREL worked with the Ceylon Electricity Board to assess Sri Lanka's grid operations and identify technical requirements for integrating variable renewable energy. These activities included evaluating control center capabilities, identifying hardware and software needs, and developing strategies for maximizing energy abundance while maintaining grid stability. Through this cooperation, NREL helped reduce technology risk and enhance the reliability of energy infrastructure, contributing to long-term resilience and system development in Sri Lanka.

Thailand

To scale up best-in-class energy technologies and solutions, NREL collaborated with partners in Thailand to enhance technical capabilities in energy storage, electrification, and power system planning. This included analysis and capacity-building to deploy battery energy storage systems, economic feasibility assessments, training for grid operators, and regulatory frameworks for storage integration. Working closely with the Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand, NREL also evaluated the role of storage in improving system flexibility, deferring transmission upgrades, and optimizing grid operations. These efforts reduced market and technical barriers, accelerating investment in Thailand's advanced energy solutions.

NREL also partnered with Thailand's Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency to assess the economic impacts of electric vehicle adoption on the biofuels industry. Using the International Jobs and Economic Development Impact (I-JEDI) tool, NREL provided insights into potential job and revenue shifts, enabling policymakers to design policies that account for industry and workforce impacts.

Additionally, previous studies conducted with Chulalongkorn University and other partners have informed distributed photovoltaic policy by analyzing the effects of customer-sited solar on utility revenues, regulatory structures, and consumer rates. These collaborative analyses support Thailand’s ability to develop resilient and affordable local energy solutions.

Vietnam

NREL is working with Vietnam's ministries, electric utility, and private sector to strengthen grid management, improve power sector planning, and mobilize investment. NREL's support includes technical analysis on grid integration, direct power purchase agreements, and system modernization strategies. NREL and partners have also facilitated policy alignment through ministerial meetings, regional dialogues, and peer-learning initiatives. Additionally, we're collaborating with Vietnam's Institute of Energy to develop tailored implementation pathways for a secure and modernized energy system. This work directly supports the expansion of affordable, reliable, and secure energy systems and strengthens critical global supply chains.

Regional Support

NREL supports countries across Asia in achieving energy security and resilience by collaborating with regional organizations and governments to strengthen power system planning, enhance operational efficiency, and build technical capacity. This work includes contributions to major regional studies like the ASEAN Interconnection Master Plan and efforts to assess the health and air quality impacts of grid expansion strategies.

NREL also helps identify opportunities to deploy energy technologies across Southeast and South Asia. Highlights include evaluating the potential for floating solar on regional waterbodies, building resilience in urban energy, water, and food systems, supporting investment decisions with high-resolution wind and solar datasets via the RE Data Explorer, and analyzing opportunities for energy storage and cross-border electricity trade in South Asia. In countries like India, Nepal, and Bangladesh, NREL has assessed storage policy environments and market opportunities, helping to diversify supply chains and accelerate new energy investments.